Lex Barker made only five Tarzan films but he is identified with this role so much so that when Tarzan films are mentioned his name comes up straight away – similarly when we mention the name Lex Barker – people immediately say ‘Tarzan’

Here he is with his family in 1948 – His son Zan Barker, born in Los Angeles, CA, March 25, 1947 to Alexander “Lex” Barker and Constance Thurlow-Adams, passed away peacefully at his home in Marla Bay, Lake Tahoe, NV on October 2, 2012.

Zan had always been very proud of his father and some of his earliest memories are watching his Dad on the RKO set filming some, if not all, of the Tarzan films there.

It also appears that Zan’s older sister Lynn Thurlow Barker died in 2010

Lex Barker’s wife in the photograph above – in fact his first wife – was Constanze Thurlow

27 June 1942 – 2 November 1950) (divorced) (2 children)

She was a daughter of Leon Rhodes Thurlow, a vice president of the Decorated Metal Manufacturing Company. They had one daughter, Lynn Thurlow Barker (April 11, 1943 – 2010) and a son, Alexander “Zan” Crichlow Barker III (March 25, 1947 – October 2, 2012).

When they were first in Hollywood Lex Barker lived in large estate on Mulholland Drive, Laurel Canyon, with his first wife, Constanze Thurlow (Connie). His neighbour at the time was none other than Errol Flynn

Constance Thurlow then married her second husband, John Lawrence Adams, a descendant of John Quincy Adams in 1952 and they remained married for quite a few years but she sadly died in 1975 at the age of 57 – not too long after her first husband Lex Barker

Lex Barker as Tarzan BELOW – my own favourite of his Five Tarzan films and his first in the role – Tarzan’s Magic Fountain

‘Zan’ Barker BELOW

Zan Barker, born in Los Angeles, CA, March 25, 1947 to Alexander “Lex” Barker and Constance Thurlow-Adams, passed away peacefully at his home in Marla Bay, Lake Tahoe, NV on October 2, 2012.

He is survived by his brother, Christopher; his sister, Gaye; nephews Michael, Daniel, Justin; and nieces Laura and Clarissa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Lynn.

Zan lead a remarkable life. As a child he spent much of his time on movie sets with his father, who played “Tarzan” produced by Sol Lesser at RKO Productions in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1953. His father went on to produce over 60 films in both the US and Europe. Zan was very proud of his father and shared stories of him and his travels around the world. One of his fondest memories was watching his father lead the 1952 Rose Bowl Parade on a large African elephant.